Inspirational Women

To find out more about the inspirational women who feature in our film and what difference they made to Manchester please see the profiles below:

Annie Horniman

Annie founded the first regionalrepertory theatre companyin Britain. The ‘Gaiety Theatre’ in Manchester was set up as a theatre for the working class and was founded against her father’s wishes by using money from her family’s tea fortune. She introduced works by contemporary playwrights by encouraging local writers who formed what was known as the Manchester School of dramatists. In 1910 she was awarded the honorary degree of MA byManchester University.

Annie Kenney

An English working class suffragette who became a leading figure in theWomen’s Social and Political Union. She attracted the attention of the press and the public in 1905 when she, and Christabel Pankhurst, were imprisoned for several days for assault and obstruction, after hecklingSir Edward Greyat a Liberal rally in Manchester on the issue of votes for women, she was born in Springhead, Saddleworth.

An English novelist and short story writer during the Victorian era (1810 -1865), her novels offer a detailed portrait of the lives of many strata of society, including the very poor, and are of interest to social historians as well as lovers of literature. She lived in Failsworth in her early life.

A working class woman who went toManchester University, became a BritishLabour Partypolitician, suffragist and the first Minister of Education from July 1945 until her death.

Read about how she lead a march on foot all the way from Jarrow in the north east to London to campaign for workers rightshere.

Emmeline Pankhurst

“A Girl Called Emmeline”, born on 15 July 1858 in the Manchester suburb ofMoss Side. A British political activist and leader of theBritish suffragette movementwith a distinctly mancunian mentality who was a significant figure in attaining the right for women to vote. In 1999 Time Magazine named Pankhurst as one of the 100 Most Important People of the 20th Century.

An English suffragette and socialist. Born February 11, 1872, into a poor farming family in Derbyshire, she left her tough home life at an early age to fend for herself. She worked for many years in organisations related to socialism, women’s suffrage and pacifism. After the First World War she was elected to Manchester City Council and worked as a magistrate, before later working for Labour Party leader, Keir Hardie.

Jamaican born anti-racism campaigner and former Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Manchester, Louise moved to Britain in 1955 to train as a nurse through an invitation from the government in attempts to bolster the newly opened NHS’s employee numbers. In 1958, Louise Da-Cocodia qualified as a Staff Registered Nurse, and began a nursing career spanning 31 years. In 1966 she was appointed as Assistant Superintendent of District Nurses, the first black senior nursing officer in Manchester. She strove to promote equality of opportunity for Manchester’s inner-city residents in housing, education and employment.

Lydia was a reader in the early British suffrage movement, as well as an amateur scientist with interests in biology and astronomy. Born in Chadderton, Lancashire, she founded theLadies’ Literary Society in Manchester.

Becker was Secretary of the Manchester National Society for Womens’ Suffrage from 1867 until her death in 1890. She played a key role in the campaign for suffrage, encouraging women to openly campaign and speak publicly. She laid the basis for the early twentieth century suffrage campaign.

“Every boy in Manchester should be taught to darn his own socks and cook his own chops”

An Englishsuffragist, local politician, pacifist and philanthropist, and the first woman City Councillor for Manchester.

Showing defiance against the early 1900’s culturally restrictive back drop, she was the first woman to run for election to Manchester City Council, and in 1908 became the first woman City Councillor when she was elected for Withington, Manchester; a testament to her progressive thought and intentions. Ashton endorsed municipal mother and baby clinics and promoted free milk for babies and new mothers. In 1914 she founded the Manchester Babies’ Hospital.

An English dramatist and screenwriter, best known for her debut work, A Taste of Honey (1958). Born in 1938 in Broughton, Salford, Lancashire. Attended Broughton Secondary Modern School.Her first play was deemed controversial for its time as it tackled issues of race, homosexuality and teenage pregnancy head on.The Smithslead singer and lyricist,Morrissey said,

“I’ve never made any secret of the fact that at least 50 per cent of my reason for writing can be blamed on Shelagh Delaney.“

Died at Peterloo campaigning about rights for the working class, read about ithere.

The Peterloo massacre on Monday 16 August 1819 took place when a peaceful crowd, assembled to demand the reform of Parliament, was attacked by armed soldiers and yeomanry.

Olivia Shapley

A British radio producer and broadcaster. In 1934 an organiser ofChildren’s Hourprogramming in Manchester, Shapley became a regular presenter of Woman’s Hour. In the mid-1960s her Manchester home became a refuge (as a charitable trust) for single mothers. She was one of the first radio broadcasters and producers to take the microphone – sometimes accompanied by the seven-ton recording van – to people in the streets, into their homes and workplace.